Decreased levels of RGS4 in the paraventricular nucleus facilitate GABAergic inhibition during the acute stress response

Biochem Biophys Res Commun. 2016 Mar 25;472(1):276-80. doi: 10.1016/j.bbrc.2016.02.108. Epub 2016 Feb 27.

Abstract

A healthy acute stress response requires both rapid increase and rapid clearance of blood corticosteroids. We previously showed that regulators of G-protein signaling 4 (RGS4), which decreases in the paraventricular nucleus (PVN) during acute stress, forms a complex with the GABAB receptor. In the present study, we show that this decrease in RGS4 levels in the PVN during an acute stress response facilitates the return of blood corticosteroids to basal levels. Moreover, the effect of RGS4 decrease is attenuated by a GABAB receptor antagonist. These results suggest that RGS4 in the PVN regulates blood corticosteroid-related GABAB receptor signaling during the acute stress response.

Keywords: Corticosterone; GABA(B) receptor; PVN; RGS4; shRNA.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Corticosterone / blood
  • GABA-B Receptor Antagonists / pharmacology
  • Gene Knockdown Techniques
  • Male
  • Mice
  • Mice, Inbred C57BL
  • Organophosphorus Compounds / pharmacology
  • Paraventricular Hypothalamic Nucleus / drug effects
  • Paraventricular Hypothalamic Nucleus / metabolism*
  • RGS Proteins / antagonists & inhibitors
  • RGS Proteins / genetics
  • RGS Proteins / metabolism*
  • RNA, Small Interfering / genetics
  • Receptors, GABA-B / metabolism*
  • Signal Transduction / drug effects
  • Stress, Physiological*

Substances

  • GABA-B Receptor Antagonists
  • Organophosphorus Compounds
  • RGS Proteins
  • RNA, Small Interfering
  • Receptors, GABA-B
  • CGP 54626
  • RGS4 protein
  • Corticosterone